Mexico removes statute of Azerbaijan leader

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico City’s government has removed a much-derided statue of the late leader of Azerbaijan from a park where it had stood for almost half a year along the capital’s main boulevard.

The city says it is still in talks with the embassy of Azerbaijan about where to put the bronze, life-sized figure of Geidar Aliyev, a former Communist Party boss who died in 2003. Azerbaijan paid about $5 million to help restore the park, erect the monument and perform other public works.

Some Mexico City residents had complained about the statue, noting Aliyev’s authoritarian record.

The boulevard is best known for its monuments to Mexican independence heroes.